Montana Senator Conrad Burns visits Big Timber
Tuesday, April 18, 2000

Republican Senator Conrad Burns visited Sweet Grass County today for an informal breakfast at The Grand Hotel and Restaurant.  Senator Burns visited with residents and discussed his stance on many issues including gun control, prescription drugs, snowmobile access to Yellowstone Park, military issues, water rights, the marriage tax, education and block grants, gas prices and oil companies along with the current Microsoft litigation, and wildlife management of Yellowstone Park.  Along with giving his views on a variety of subjects, he also said a few words in support of Carla Grey who is running for Chief Justice of the Montana Supreme Court. 

Burns said that he visited Shiloh Rifle.  It was a symbolic gesture to show support for gun owners and manufacturers with the current climate of gun control laws being pushed by the Democratic party.  

One military issue that Senator Burns addressed was that we need to keep our military pilots.  Some of the military pilots are leaving because they can make twice the pay flying for a commercial airline.  Working conditions was also a reason sited by Senator Burns for pilots leaving the military.  Senator Burns, a former Marine himself, alluded to the fact that the current administration is downsizing the military, noting that the agenda is to create a light, flexible, and mobile military.  He said that we currently have this, called the Marines - the Marines are for winning battles, and the Army is for winning the war.  The Army is for the knockout punch.  Senator Burns said that he is for a small military draft.

About prescription drugs, Conrad said that the more rules and regulations we have, the higher the cost of the prescriptions.  He said that "the ones that need the help are going to get it".  One resident said that every time he goes in for eye-drops he uses to control his glaucoma the prices go up and wonders how that can be.  

On water rights, Senator Burns maintains that the state of Montana controls and to keep the feds from taking over control.  He noted that Montanans take better care of our waters and national parks and know best how to manage them than the federal government. 

One participant asked Senator Burns how he felt about the push to keep snowmobiles out of Yellowstone Park.  Senator Burns responded that he was fighting to keep snowmobile access to the park, as tourism is an important resource to Montana, but was for quieter snowmobiles that emit fewer emissions.  He talked about the fact that he thought that the snowmobilers would not have a negative impact on the buffalo by saying that he has seen the Buffalo walk casually alongside snowmobiles and ignore them.  He said that few snowmobiles are going to move a buffalo- that the buffalo would always win that fight. On the subject of Yellowstone Park when the issue with wolves was brought up, Conrad pointed out that Yellowstone Park is the only National Park where the wildlife is not managed. He contends that the park should be managed for the benefit of the species.

One resident brought up the fact that oil companies are paying for workers not to work- saying that the oil companies are also behind the rise in gas prices.  Senator Burns acknowledged the mans statement. 

Education and money spent on the kids was a big concern on Senator Burns.  He said that to avoid bureaucracies from absorbing the money appropriated for education, the solution is for block grants that direct money directly to school districts and thus sending more money to benefit the kids. 

The Marriage Tax is a "no brainer" according to Senator Burns, and he point out the 51 million dollars leaves the state of Montana due to this tax.  Senator Burns wants to eliminate this tax. See article below.

For more information or to contact Senator Conrad Burns, you can go to his website at:  http://burns.senate.gov/

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Montana Senator Conrad Burns today expressed his disbelief that Senate Democrats blocked debate on a bill that would have eliminated the marriage penalty tax and provided financial relief to nearly 90,000 married couples in Montana.

The legislation would have increased the standard deduction for married couples filing jointly to twice the standard deduction for single taxpayers — effectively eliminating the marriage penalty tax, which according to the Congressional Budget Office forces the average married couple to pay an additional $1,400 in taxes each year. Burns noted that due to this inequity married couples in Montana pay approximately $51.5 million more in taxes on an annual basis.

"It’s unfortunate that the Democrats blocked this legislation that would have brought fairness to the tax code for our nation’s married couples," Burns said. "Our young couples should not be penalized for following their hearts. They should be afforded every opportunity to save for a new home or invest in an education rather than sending an additional $1,400 to Washington, D.C. every year, simply because they decide to marry.

"My fight to provide Montana’s married couples with tax fairness is far from over. I will continue my efforts to eliminate this unnecessary and punitive financial obstacle from the tax code, and allow our families to decide how best to use their hard earned income."

Burns noted that the House and Senate have twice before sent modified versions of marriage tax penalty relief legislation to the president’s desk, and both times the bills have been vetoed by President Clinton.